He paused, then added, “It’s good to see you back.”
“Thank you,” she murmured.
He turned on his heel and strode out, leaving Honey staring at the pile of folders up to her neck.
At one point in her life, this would’ve thrilled her. An impossible amount of paper. A to-do list that spilled off the edge of the page. Her own office and title and nameplate and authority. It should’ve felt like winning.
But instead, it felt…hollow.
She turned around in her chair and looked out the window. A woman holding the hand of a young girl crossed the courtyard. A man talking on an earpiece milled about with his hands in his pockets. A pigeon pecked at a forgotten hot dog. Life went on as usual, and there, in the center of it all, her wishing well.
A man was standing next to it. He held a coin in his hand, flipping it around his fingers as he stared into the water.She wondered what he would wish for and if the new auditor would approve it.
Turning back to the files stacked on her desk, she flipped open the first one. She buzzed the intercom. “Mr. Weisel, please come to my office.”
No response.
She looked up and could see him, plain as day, sitting at his cubicle across the hall typing away at his computer.
She pressed the buzzer again. “Dean.”
Still nothing.
She pushed back her chair and raised her voice. “Dean!”
He shoved back in his seat and came to her office door. “What did you want, Honey?”
“It’s Ms. Baxter.”
He snorted. “Did you need something, Ms. Baxter?”
“Yes. Please file these addendums under Magical Public Works—Subsection F. That’s F for Fairy Godparent.”
“I think technically they are miscellaneous,” he said smugly, reaching for the top folder.
“And I think technically I’m your superior,” she replied, cool and even. “And if you’re struggling with alphabetical order, I’d be happy to recommend a remedial workshop.”
Dean’s smile soured. “As you wish, Ms. Baxter.”
He left, slapping the folder onto his desk. There, she thought to herself. The first thing checked off her list. She waited for the buzz of satisfaction, but felt nothing.
She turned back toward the window to see if the man had wished. He was still standing there, with his back toward her building.
Then he turned, and her heart jumped.
Honey froze. She held her breath as he very slowly looked up. Right at her window.
“Ethan,” she whispered.
It was ridiculous. He couldn’t possibly see her from that far away. But something in the way his eyes lifted, as if he sensed her watching, made her heart race.
Without another word, she grabbed her coat and marched out the door. Her heels clicked across the floor.
She went past Dean, past the receptionist, and right past Mr. Aldridge who blinked and said, “Is everything alright, Ms. Baxter?”
“Just taking an early lunch!” she called back.
She pushed out through the front doors, breath catching in her throat as the fall chill hit her.
